Fireball International Open Forum, Portoroz, September 2013
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Open Forum – Fireball International
World Championships,
Portoroz, September 2013.
1. Attendance.
Joe Jospe, Commodore, Andrew Davies, Secretary, Tom Egli, Technical Representative, Cormac Bradley, Communications Officer.
Pam Johnson – International Measurer.
22 people in attendance (approximate head count).
Joe Jospe welcomed everyone to the meeting and encouraged the participants to have their say – this is the essence of the Open Forum, an opportunity for the competitors to have their say on the administration of the Class and the direction the Class is taking.
2. Fireball Website & Facebook Community.
JJ reminded everyone of the development of the new FI website and the establishment of a new FI Facebook community. In terms of the latter, we have just gone over the 500 mark in terms of people signing up to Facebook.
JJ acknowledged the work of Ben Schulz in Australia in getting the new website built. This had been funded from available monies from the Mandurah Worlds (2012) and funds from FI.
3. Correctors (TE).
Tom Egli gave a brief history on the use of correctors in the boat and advised that current thinking is to reduce the maximum correctors by 3kg to 4.5kg in parallel with a similar exercise to reduce the weight of the boat (by 3kg) to 76.4kg.
Our current practice for International Events is to have a “Championship weight” declared at each event against which all competing boats are measured. This is allowable within the Rules – as advised by Pam Johnson. For this event Tom and Joe’s boat (CAN 15024) is being used because of its limited usage and the fact that it is stored under cover.
However, there is a suggestion that the “Championship weight” should be set out in the Event guidelines so that compe5titors can prepare their bats accordingly. This would necessitate an extensive programme of re-measurement which would need to be considered in tandem with the proposed weight changes.
These proposals would have to be voted on by the NCAs and there would be a thirty-day time frame for the votes to be returned. However, even before the voting procedure, the proposal would have to get ISAF approval. We currently enjoy a good relationship with ISAF which makes it easier to have rule changes approved. If ISAF approval is obtained and the NCAs support the changes (by vote), the date on which the changes take effect is determined by the Class itself.
4. Slab Reefing (TE).
The UKFA are looking at the idea of introducing a system of slab reefing for the main. This has come about because some crews are raking mast back to 22’ 2” or even 22’00”. Thus the boom is very low. Putting in a slab reefing system would thus lift the boom making if easier (and safer) for the helm to cross the boat in tacks and gybes. There are ongoing discussions with sailmakers in the UK as a second clew fixture would be required, with implications for reinforcing panels, 6” above the single clew position at present.
5. In-house certification of sails (TE).
There is a requirement to review of sail measuring rules to make them more consistent with the methods of measurement used by ISAF. Currently there are differences between the ISAF methodology and the Class methodology for spinnaker leeches, battens (and batten pockets) and jibs.
The advantage to the Class is that it would allow ISAF measurers to measure Fireball sails in a country where there are no Class Measurers. Additionally, even in countries where this is not a problem, it would increase the pool of people who can measure sails. Having the measurement undertaken at the sailmakers’ facility also presents benefits for the consumer.
In-house certification would also promote a more rigorous system of sail auditing. Currently there are difficulties in matching sails to measurers, their initials, their and their records of sails measured. This is normally resolved by Andrew applying his stamp to sails at the venue after they have been measured. NCAs will be asked to provide FI with their Class Measurer details. Revised and jointly approved (ISAF & FI) guidelines for measurement will promote the collection of data for a sail registry.
6. Containerisation of boats (TE).
A revised system of racks to allow 10 boats and 8 trolleys to be fitted into a container are being developed and the plans for these will be circulated imminently.
7. Possible changes to the boat (JJ).
Some ideas are being circulated to make the boat easier to sail, to manoeuvre and to provide better storage for sails.
a) Reduce the buoyancy of the boat by a marginal amount to allow it to sit lower in the water when capsized – makes getting onto the centre-board easier.
b) Extend the cockpit space, by reducing the dimension of the aft deck, to allow sails to be stored inside the cockpit, below deck level, without bending.
c) Trialling of carbon booms in Canada and carbon foils in the UK has been approved. The benefits of longevity need to be assessed against any cost implication.
8. Marketing (JJ).
More people are getting involved with the marketing of the Class – we have a 500 person facebook community! There has been an improved supply of articles for the website with the Swiss, the UK and the South Africans posting their own stories and events.
The status of the Class in North America is a cause for concern. The numbers are small and the distances between them are vast.
The website is the public face of the Class and we need to make it the best possible to get our message out. It can provide sponsorship opportunities. We need a constant supply of constructive writing and reports of activities across the World.
John Manson (Shetlands) asked if a tab could be made available to promote the Europeans in the same way that Worlds are accommodated. JJ indicated that this would be reviewed but there was a potential cost implication.
Andrew Davies (Secretary) suggested that the site needs to be refined and asked if we can determine what the cost of changes would be. Some ideas on this theme are:-
a) Problem if we make the site too Eurocentric.
b) Shetland Island needs a NCA tab; John Manson noted that Shetland ≠ UK!
c) Suggestion that two existing tabs be merged to free one for the Europeans.
d) As the Worlds and Europeans in 2014 will be separate events they need equal billing.
e) Suggestion that we have a Championship tab or International Events tab so that individual regattas can be promoted in a chronological manner.
f) Can we monitor the visits to the site to see if any sections are under-utilised that could then be reconfigured to accommodate a Championship/International Event section.
9. Merit of a 3-day Europeans (Czech NCA).
The Czechs are of the opinion that a three-day Europeans is too short and that the incorporation of a layday as a spare day should be reviewed. They further recommended that the Race Officer be allowed to run more than three races a day in order to get ahead of schedule in the instance of an adverse weather forecast. UKFA advised that they allow a Race Officer at the Nationals to get one race ahead of programme to mitigate against an adverse weather situation. A variable layday is also of benefit.
Louis Smyth (Irl) advised that the idea behind the original one race per day format was to minimize the impact of serious damage in a race in terms of the individual’s overall regatta. In the same scenario, multiple races in a day after serious damage has been suffered has a more significant knock-on effect.
JJ – the revised format of the two week regatta (Europeans/International Week + Worlds) was to contain travel and leave costs so that travel could be accommodated on the weekends at either end of the two week event, with the racing contained within the “working week”.
JJ – this is the first time we have tried the 3-day format. Proposed that competitors at this event be polled by E-mail for their thoughts on the revised format. (Action Item).
JJ – planning for families at a two-week event is also a factor that has to be considered.
JJ – FI is committed to establishing a 3-year ongoing programme of events (Worlds and Europeans) so that individuals and regatta organizers have more lead-in time to plan events. Thus in Slovenia we will consider at the Council Meeting a proposal for 2016. (2014 and 2015 are already confirmed – Thailand and Wales/UK.)
UKFA – they have a week long regatta for Nationals with a variable layday and discretion afforded to the Race Officer to get one race ahead of programme. Week can double up as a family holiday.
10. Schedule of Events.
Worlds. Europeans.
2014 Pattaya, Thailand, March/April Shetland Islands, late July
2015 Pwllheli, Wales, UK, August Pwllheli, Wales, UK, August
2016 Venue to be confirmed at Council No event.
(Thursday 19th September)
Barbados (AD) – Since our ground-breaking visit to Barbados in 2010, Classes have been queuing up to book events there. The 5o5s were there earlier this year and we believe the GP14s are due there in 2016. There is a danger of going back to any venue too soon, however, there is a standing offer from the Barbadian Government to return. The first opportunity to go back would be 2017.
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Fireball International